Lehigh University student models in reality TV show Project Runway

You may recognize Sonika Shankar, ’13, from one of your political science classes or business classes. Maybe you stood behind her at Rathbone once or lived on her hall in Dravo freshman year. Or, maybe you saw her this summer when you were flipping through the TV and stumbled upon Project Runway.

Like other kids who aspired to one day be on a magazine cover or walk on the runway, Shankar always wanted to be a model too. But, her dreams soon became a reality this past June when the Project Runway casting called Shankar back.

Shankar spent time last spring semester taking the bus to and from New York City to help make her dreams come true. From getting signed by Major Model Management and walking in New York Fashion Week to attending countless castings, the exhausting process culminated in a Project Runway casting.

“I went into modeling not knowing anything,” Shankar said. “There was so much competition.”

Shankar did not expect to be called back to the Lifetime reality TV show that has aired annually since 2006.

So, when Shankar got word of her casting in mid-June, she moved from her town in New Jersey to New York City to begin filming.

“It was madness — absolute madness,” Shankar said.

She said it was difficult at times for her to understand the “different world.” Shankar had to keep everything confidential, make sure she didn’t wear anything with brand names and even take off the labels on water bottles in order to comply with the rules of Project Runway’s filming. Things like eating while wearing the clothing were forbidden, which was a “reality adjustment” for Shankar.

But Shankar said the hardest part was the “crazy hours.” She would sometimes have to be there from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., fitting, filming and re-filming in order to get the perfect shots.

After getting paired up with designer Lantie Foster, who Shankar became friendly with, she got to start putting the clothing on. On the Dylan’s Candy Bar episode, Shankar wore a skirt and shirt that was from a Dylan’s Candy Bar umbrella and candy coins. Unlike some other outfits that Shankar described as constricting and heavy, Foster always designed clothing that was comfortable for Shankar to wear. She was told to model the “girly clothes” slowly and smile a lot to reflect Foster’s style.

The models were filmed during fittings and then came back the next day for the runway, often times filming the same shot multiple times in order to get it just right.

Being surrounded by other models was an eye-opening experience for Shankar. She said she couldn’t live with all the models, which some models chose to do, because of how intense it was.

“Modeling is their life,” she said. “I have my education. It’s different lifestyles.”

Shankar made sure her studies always came first. After her father wasn’t so keen on the idea of modeling, it was clear Shankar would have to work hard in order to get his support. Shankar was able to successfully balance both school and modeling and made Dean’s List for the first time in the spring semester.

“Now they [her parents] are both really supportive,” Shankar said.

Just like her parents, Shankar said everyone has been really nice about the whole situation, though “you find out who your close friends are,” she said. Some old friends have tried contacting Shankar since the show aired, and she gets a lot of people asking about it. On July 19, the season began and Shankar, alongside her parents, saw herself on TV for the first time.

On Project Runway models are eliminated with the designer they are paired with based on their work. In the second episode Foster was eliminated along with Shankar.

Before elimination Shankar was able to meet quite a few famous people. Heidi Klum, Project Runway’s host, was really nice, Shankar said. Michael Kors, who is one of the judges, was funny and Lauren Graham, a guest judge, even pulled the models aside to talk to them, which was a nice gesture, Shankar said. And, of course, Shankar met Tim Gunn, the fashion chair at Parsons, The New School for Design, who mentors the designers throughout the show. Gunn was a little “cold and trembling,” Shankar said when she met him.

Once Foster was eliminated, Shankar’s time on the show didn’t completely end. On Sept. 4, Shankar went back to New York City to film the finale of the show. They also wanted the models to walk in New York Fashion Week, which is from Sept. 5 to 13. But, Shankar can’t go because of school. With classes and an internship, Shankar is realistic about modeling right now.

She knows she has to put school first, and after she graduates, she can further pursue her goals of modeling. Shankar said that her goal is for one day to be in an editorial photo spread in a magazine.